CH 5

─── The Adventurers’ Guild.

An agency independent of the state, it primarily engages in vanquishing monsters for a living.

Therefore, those who become “adventurers” are not used in wars, political disputes, or other conflicts involving the state.

Of course there are nations that conscript citizens in times of war, although the Kingdom of Myrstia is not one of them.

With this background, being an adventurer is one of the most popular professions for commoners here.

But not everyone can become an adventurer if they want to.

There is only one thing that is required of an adventurer, and that is─── power.

Regardless of their noble status or noble spirit, those who lack the “power” to defeat demons cannot become adventurers.

On the other hand, if you have the power, you can become an adventurer, no matter who you are.

The Adventurers’ Guild is trusted and allowed to exist because of its history of never having been involved in such a situation, even though there is a danger that it could become an armed group that threatens the nation.

In addition, those who become adventurers are also free to go beyond the boundaries of their nations.

In other words, people with different ideas and values gather in the same place, and it is not uncommon for so-called “disputes” to arise between adventurers.

For these reasons, many citizens have the impression that the Adventurers’ Guild is “a bunch of ruffians,” and there’s no denying it.

Thus, the demand for adventurers is greater than most, though not without its problems.

That’s just how much damage the monsters have done to the humans.

But for some reason, the Adventurers’ Guild wasn’t very active today.

“Just now, the fifth A-rank adventuring party, ‘Claws of the Grey Wolf’, came to report that they will be inactive for a while.”

“Haah…”

“Things are serious. There’s no time for sighing.”

“Aah, Eruka-san is so beautiful. I should have asked her out for tea before she went back to the Royal Capital.”

“For goodness sake, stop talking about things that happened already three months ago. Stop running away from reality and make a decision or the guild will cease to exist!”

“Haah… Be more specific.”

“You know what I mean. Please reject this ‘request’.”

“Nonono, I can’t. You know how scary Al-san is!”

“But! If you don’t refuse, the guild will collapse!”

“Gununu.”

This is the Adventurer’s Guild in the city of Gilbadia, in the territory of the Marquis of Gilbert.

The one who raises his voice in anguish is a man named “Dolce Pannacotta” who serves as the guild master.

“Haah… As expected, I have to say no. I knew there was something going on since he went to the trouble of making such a request to an adventurer when he could have used his own knights, but… give me a break, Al-san.”

Dolce looked again at the request at hand.

It was written there.

“You will engage in a mock melee battle with Luke Withania Gilbert, the eldest son of the Gilbert family. You will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred to ‘Luke Wizaria Gilbert’ during this mock battle. In case you are injured, however, the Gilberts promise to pay you a reasonable compensation. Rewards are as follows. Provided, if you win, the reward shall be doubled. Reward: One gold coin.”

One gold coin.

That’s a lot of money for an average adventurer.

This is enough to eat for a week, even if you spend three extravagant nights.

That’s what you get for just one mock battle.

Despite suspecting that there is something behind the scenes, it would be inevitable that they would try their hand at it.

Moreover, there is no danger to life, and since there is no rank specification, the guild has no choice but to accept orders from adventurers of any rank.

But… this was truly a ‘devil’s request’.

In just three months.

Following this request, five A-rank adventurer parties announced indefinite suspensions.

Let’s talk a little bit about adventurers here.

For adventurers, A rank is a gateway to success.

Because it is a common understanding among adventurers that those without talent, no matter how much effort they put in, will always end up in the B rank.

Hence, A-rank adventurers have a firm sense of pride.

It’s a pride in your own “power” that can’t be compared to adventurers of B rank or lower.

Of course there’s a level higher.

They are called S rank, and the highest rank, X rank.

However, this is a title that is only granted to a handful of selected individuals called “true heroes” and “deviant”, and there are too few people who aspire to it in the first place.

That’s why most adventurers aim for A-rank.

Now, let’s get back to the story.

Why did five A rank adventuring parties suspend indefinitely?

It is because they realized that the “pride” that they had obtained after tremendous efforts was so worthless and meaningless.

──── By a chance encounter with a real “monster”.

[It’s not worth talking about, it’s a waste of time. Why do guilds send us only weak adventurers like this?]

[I’m pretty sure the one who came last time was a C-rank adventurer. Are you one too?]

[A-rank? I don’t think so? Isn’t that C-rank? Why is it necessary to separate people of the same ability? The guild’s ranking system is unreliable.]

From the perspective of the truly chosen, those who have not been chosen are all equally nothing more than a nobody.

No matter how much effort you put in, you will never reach the real heights.

They were just happy competing against each other.

How funny, isn’t it?

Yes, they were denied their “pride” which they had obtained after overcoming various hardships.

Everything they had ever done was mockingly denied to them.

This is too cruel to be true, and too common.

But they are being sifted now.

Do they want to get up again or do they just keep sinking?

Those who know the heights and still manage to stand up are strong.

Even if they stood up, they might not be able to become a “true hero”.

Still, I’m sure they’ll be one step ahead of where they were before───

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

Well, I’ve noticed something in the last two years or so.

My arrogance can no longer be contained.

No matter how hard I try to fight it, it’s useless.

There is probably no way to break this curse…

Haah… I guess I’ll just keep making enemies.

I was very rude to the adventurers.

They must be hating me by now…

Well, there’s no point in lamenting.

What worries me is losing to an equal.

In Alfred-san’s case, we were too far apart in age and experience.

But what if it were to be someone of my own age?

If I lose, will I be able to keep my mind?

───No.

If I lose, my enormous self-esteem will crumble and my ego will collapse.

And that point will be my bad ending.

I have to keep winning.

I have to be hungry.

I must get into the spirit once again.

“… Tch.”

Then I saw an unusual sight.

I thought when Alfred-san was talking to someone, a man clicked his tongue as hard as he could.

Without seeming to hide his intentions.

The man who had clicked his tongue bowed repeatedly and walked away as if to escape.

“What is it? Did something happen?”

I pretended I hadn’t seen it for now and asked him why, just like that.

“… It was the guildmaster himself who came to reject the request.”

“I see.”

… But well, thank God.

Now I won’t have to feel guilty for being rude to adventurers.

The mock battle with the adventurers was something that Alfred-san started by saying that all that was left was practice, but it was actually disappointing.

To be honest, they were uncommonly weak.

I was concerned.

I couldn’t show that, though.

But, well…

“Right on time.”

“What do you mean?”

Yeah, it was good timing.

Because I wanted to start something else.

“It’s about time. ─── I want to know more about magic. Tell my father. Tell him to contact the Ministry of Magic and ask for a magic appraiser.”